“We Still Need Her” / Week Six / Chapter 9

Welcome back to our group read, “We Still Need Her.” Today we join Mrs. Bennet as she arrives at Netherfield to visit Jane and Elizabeth.

Chapter 9

Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister’s room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgement of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.

Mrs. Bennet with Lydia and Mary, Hugh Thomson, 1894

Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter’s proposal of being carried
home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley’s appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.

“Indeed I have, sir,” was her answer. “She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.”

“Removed!” cried Bingley. “It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.”

“You may depend upon it, Madam,” said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, “that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us.”

Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.

“I am sure,” she added, “if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to _her_. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease.”

“Whatever I do is done in a hurry,” replied he; “and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.”

Pride and Prejudice, Edited by Patricia Meyer Spacks

“That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,” said Elizabeth.

“You begin to comprehend me, do you?” cried he, turning towards her.

“Oh! yes–I understand you perfectly.”

“I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful.”

“That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.”

“Lizzy,” cried her mother, “remember where you are, and do not run on in
the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.”

“I did not know before,” continued Bingley immediately, “that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.”

“Yes, but intricate characters are the _most_ amusing. They have at least that advantage.”

“The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”

“But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.”

“Yes, indeed,” cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. “I assure you there is quite as much of _that_ going on in the country as in town.”

Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.

“I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?”

“When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”

“Aye–that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing at all.”

“Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.”

“Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.”

Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since _her_ coming away.

“Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So genteel and easy! He has always something to say to everybody. _That_ is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.”

“Did Charlotte dine with you?”

“No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; _my_ daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think
Charlotte so _very_ plain–but then she is our particular friend.”

“She seems a very pleasant young woman.”

“Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane’s beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane–one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner’s in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.”

“And so ended his affection,” said Elizabeth impatiently. “There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!”

“I have been used to consider poetry as the _food_ of love,” said Darcy.

“Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”

Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to
each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother’s ear:

“I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.”

Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh! yes–it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given _your_ ball,” she added, “I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.”

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of _her_, in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on _fine eyes_.

A few points come to mind here. Well, actually, several points, but I’ll only discuss the ones that I think offer the most food for thought, but please include your own insights here to our group read.

The first point is how quickly Mrs. Bennet feels the need to jump in and compliment Jane on her disposition while at the same time diminishing the worth of the rest of her daughters. It seems like Mr. And Mrs. Bennet can’t help themselves from making disparaging comments about their daughters.

“I am sure,” she added, “if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to _her_.

Next, l love how Charles Bingley responds to Mrs. Bennet’s compliments about Netherfield with this statement, “Whatever I do is done in a hurry,” replied he; “and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.”

Which Elizabeth responds with “That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,” said Elizabeth.

What does Elizabeth mean here when she says this statement? I didn’t necessarily find this to be a complimentary statement. What do you think?

This next exchange for me seemed to provide readers with some information about how Darcy may really know Elizabeth better than we think he does at this point of the story, while also proving himself to be correct in regards to Elizabeth’s abilities to sketch characters:“The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”

“But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.” (Elizabeth)

I think Austen was giving us a big clue here into Elizabeth’s abilities to sketch characters. She is so confident in herself, but it’s Darcy within this conversation who is willing to tell her she may need some more practice sketching characters. Is he alluding to himself? Is he trying to tell her she needs to more practice before she can be so sure of herself? What do you think?

What about the comments about poetry? Austen has Darcy and Elizabeth at odds for their preferences regarding poetry. Why does she have them disagree on this point? What is she trying to say?

Last, I was surprised about Austen’s words to describe Lydia here within this chapter. In particular, the words stating that Lydia has “high animal spirits,’ really came across as quite bold and unflattering. What are your thoughts about this statement?

Reader Interactions

Comments

I have to agree that the statement made about Jane’s disposition at the expense of her other daughters certainly caught my attention. It didn’t help either when Lizzy started talking about Mr. Bingley’s character either and her mother quite cut her down!

Now that you point out the statement of Darcy’s about ‘confined and unvarying society’, I can see how that could be a ‘clue’ to Elizabeth about her lack of experience, but she doesn’t pick up on it. She forges ahead in her confidence of what she thinks she knows! But Mrs. Bennet is not off the mark about Darcy’s attitude/social skills in general “He (Sir Lucas) has always something to say to everybody. _That_ is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.” Though voicing it in front of him was poor breeding on her part!

As for Lydia, I think there is a ‘clue’ I never picked up on. It rather portends her fate in a way. Act before thinking of the consequences…running off with Wickham.

Yes Carole, it was poor breeding on her part. I have to laugh because for someone who wants all of these girls married off, she certainly does a poor job helping them all shine instead of drawing needless comparisons between them, IMO.

For me, I’m realizing Darcy was expressing his perceptions of Elizabeth sooner than I initially remembered. That’s a big part of why I’m enjoying this reread.

The description of Lydia is so bold and we both forgot it. I just don’t recall Austen using that language to describe another lady. I’ll have to pay better attention in future readings.

Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance.

I get the impression, she’s a bit curvy, probably looks older, the soldiers may treat her as if she’s older, she loves the attention–perhaps thrives on it, has a bit of a wild streak, and we should not be surprised when she later runs off with Wickham. She’s been boy-crazy for a while.

To your first point about Mrs. Bennet, this just underscores the mystery of how such proper and composed young women like Jane and Elizabeth could have such a clueless, tactless mother. Many JAFF authors insert the Gardiners as sort of foster parent figures and models of a more ideal marriage for the two oldest daughters and usually indicate that, once the Gardiners had children of their own, they were unavailable to spend as much time with their youngest three nieces. Jane Austen never bothers to explain the contrast, probably because it’s tangent to the main story, which doesn’t suffer from the lack of explanation.

It also impresses me how subtly yet brilliantly Jane Austen presents Mrs. Bennet as an absurd mother figure and also presents Lady Catherine as another absurd mother, although in a different way. (I think, given the choice between the two, I’d take Mrs. Bennet. Wouldn’t you?) Lady C. doesn’t have any other daughters to disparage, but she’s just as pushy and tactless a potential mother-in-law as Mrs. Bennet. Darcy, as both Lady C’s nephew and a snob himself when he first declares himself to Elizabeth, doesn’t recognize the ironic similarities when he demeans Elizabeth’s mother. I mean, earlier at Rosings he looks ashamed at his aunt’s ill-breeding when she has made a thoughtlessly rude comment, but he never connects the dots.

In Elizabeth’s exchange with Bingley, I’ve never thought she was doing anything more than making an observation. His character is so open and enthusiastic, especially the way he just dives into his new (to him) group of neighbors. It seems perfectly reasonable to deduce that he would be impulsive, and he also seems like someone who would not take offense to that observation. I think he responds to her playfully rather than seriously. Sadly, his comments here actually foreshadow his later actions when he DOES quit Netherfield suddenly, which may be Austen’s point of that conversation.

As for Darcy’s comment about the “unvarying society,” I’m not sure I agree that he’s sending a little dig to Elizabeth about her lack of experience as a studier of different characters. He doesn’t realize yet how badly she thinks of him, and Wickham hasn’t entered the area yet. I think it’s a subtle dig at the smallness and perhaps also the lack of intellectual depth in the neighborhood itself. I definitely agree with Carole that Mrs. Bennet may not be that far off when she takes umbrage, and that, of course, her response is over-the-top rude.

With the poetry discussion, Elizabeth starts it, I think, just saying whatever comes to the top of her head to try to shut her mother up! Darcy takes up the subject with the more common opinion about poetry, and then she proceeds to defend her position. It’s likely what Darcy’s referencing at Rosings when he later says he knows she finds “great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not [her] own.”

Regarding Lydia, the reader probably is not supposed to like her much. We see that Mrs. Bennet – whose weak character is already established – has chastised Elizabeth in this same scene for “run[ning] off in [a] wild manner” but doesn’t see anything wrong with Lydia, who is far more inappropriate. The author’s unflattering description and the contrast between Lydia’s uncorrected wildness and Elizabeth’s playful liveliness are clues that Lydia, at the very least, is a source of irritation in the unfolding story.

Thanks for taking the time to leave such thoughtful and interesting comments Debbie.

Mrs. Bennet’s behavior is always a bit of a mystery to me, yet I believe Austen wrote her this way to show the contrast in parenting styles (Between her and Mr. B) and yes, the similarities between her behavior when compared with Lady Catherine’s behavior. I agree that Darcy doesn’t pick up on this for a while, but I think when he does, it hits him pretty hard.

Just another quick point I want to mention. I appreciate the performance of the 95 version of Mrs. Bennet, but once I heard Rosamund Pike’s new audiobook narration, I found myself appreciating and enjoying a more subdued and sympathetic portrayal of her character.

I love your points about Lydia and Elizabeth. I don’t think we’re supposed to like her, which unfortunately for me, Austen wildly succeeded with me. I usually can’t stand her and often find myself sympathizing with Wickham more than her. Please don’t hate me for saying that!!! I just hate how she nearly ruins her sister’s lives along with her own and she never suffers any remorse for her actions.

You’re probably right with the comment Elizabeth makes about poetry too. She’s just professing opinions, (which may not be her own)and Darcy takes the bait and responds to her. He’s learning how she works, but she’s a difficult read, just like he is.

To answer your questions about the ladies, yes, I would take Mrs. Bennet over Lady Catherine any day, because I think Mrs. Bennet is more concerned with her daughters than LC is, but I also love Mr. Bennet, so maybe I don’t have very good judgement here, since so many people in JAFF dislike Mr. B, LOL. For me, he’s the man who made Elizabeth who she is and Elizabeth always has my heart.

I always wonder about Elizabeth’s real intent with her comment about Bingley. I think she respects Bingley and Jane, and yet, I think she’s so much like Darcy in many ways and she does see herself as smarter than Bingley and Jane. I love Elizabeth, but I think she’s a bit smug here and it’s not until she read’s Darcy’s letter that she really reflects on her actions and her own character.

This, my friend, is why we love to talk and read about these characters. They are so complex and we know people like them in various parts of our own lives. I truly believe, the cast of characters in P&P is what makes this book Austen’s most popular story. I don’t think any of her other stories has such an eclectic cast of characters.

I actually prefer the interpretation given to Mrs. Bennet in 2005, mostly because that version showed more of her motivation and softened it a bit – I imagine that was a choice made by the script and the director as well as the actress. The 1995 Mrs. Bennet, even though she had mostly (perhaps solely) Jane Austen’s own words to speak, seemed more of a caricature than a character to me. Haven’t heard Rosamund Pike’s audio of Pride and Prejudice, but perhaps it’s influenced by the 2005 version she appeared in?

I love the exchange between Bingley and Elizabeth in this passage. It says so much about both of them especially set against this room of people. Always felt they connected well in a platonic brother/sister/friend way.

Oh boy, Mrs. B and Darcy also are showcased as well. Talk about oil and water. But fun b/c the reader can anticipate where their divergent views will take things.

So much has been set forth here, which all gives us food for thought. I would like to add a word about Lydia. When I consider the description as having high animal spirits I picture animals reacting to stimuli, not having the ability to think before acting. Lydia reacts to red coats, anything in pants and the chance to move to the music. I picture her as looking at faces only to then react to what she reads there not what a person might be thinking inwardly. A smile means he likes what he sees so flirt more, giggle more and toss one’s head. Lydia never THINKS. And unfortunately NEVER thinks about how her actions might have consequences – good or bad. Being the first one to marry means she won the gold metal! After all, what did she hear from her mother constantly but that they must marry.

For me there were always two conversations going on. (And I am sure all agree…not a new observation.) Mrs. Bennet has no insight into the true meaning of what is being said…but she must have her word. Lydia is such a duplicate of her mother: thoughtless and self-centered.

In the words to Bingley I always took from Elizabeth’s reply that he is impulsive and will act on a moment’s notice. Even in writing letters we read that his writing cannot keep up with his thoughts so the script is illegible. Bingley, also, does not think very deeply and is, as we all know, easily influenced by his sisters and by Darcy.

The comments to Elizabeth do show that Darcy notices how she takes comments and then will react to attempt to turn the words said to make others comfortable, as in covering up for her mother’s rude remarks about Darcy. Elizabeth catches the intent as she makes judgments about character, even knowing her mother’s beforehand. So Elizabeth is not talking just to add to the conversation but to try to direct it in a more acceptable manner. Darcy notices she has some insight into what is meant and as to what is appropriate.

Sheila, I love that point about Lydia and the comparison with animal behavior. She is so impulsive and yes, her mother has formed her thought processes in so many ways. It’s funny that Lydia is really like Mrs. B. yet Elizabeth is like Mr. B., but what about the other sisters? I often find them harder to compare as well with one of their parents.

Elizabeth is so socially agile. That’s a big draw for Darcy, IMO, because he’s so different. Yet, I always wonder why Elizabeth never tries to have a heart to heart with her mom about this like she sort of attempts to with her father. It’s hard to imagine a daughter being unable to try to talk to her mother about her concerns, but I guess that’s just based on my own experiences. But I see Elizabeth as so opinionated, I wish she’d tell Mrs. B. the things she needs to hear, since Mr. B. has such little influence in her…

I understand a mother and daughter not being able to talk about deep matters. My mother was very religious and everything revolved around her beliefs. You didn’t talk about sex and that was the 60s when the sexual revolution was going on. Everything in her world was black and white – no gray areas. Sometimes it is a matter of personalities being so different. I was very open with my 2 daughters growing up. My son said I used to embarrass him with some of what I talked about but he was younger than his sisters. I envy those who have a close relationship with their mothers. My middle child, a daughter, is closer to her father than she is to me but they talk about sports so much. He, and she, were athletes and follow certain teams. I am not interested in most sports. I don’t have time to talk about the other Bennet girls presently but we know children are born with personalities and it takes a lot of guidance to shape a child. If their mother couldn’t be bothered to take notice of their interest then she didn’t come to know her child nor could she turn their obsessions in order to broaden their interests, i.e. Mary. Lost child what she was in the midst.

Yes, I know what you mean about different personalities. I guess I just wish they could’ve had that bind because ultimately, they would’ve both benefitted from it, I believe.

You bring up also a good point about the fact that I can’t really understand a relationship such as theirs because it is a different time and culture. So I have to base my thought that this relationship was probably just more typical than I am realizing.

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